Home games at PNC Park will be designated as gold, black or white under new tiered pricing system

Riding high from their first playoff appearance in 21 years, the Pittsburgh Pirates say they will raise ticket prices next season as they move to a three-tiered system that charges higher prices for some games than others.

Seventeen home games in 2014 will be designated as "gold" games: the home opener against the Chicago Cubs on March 31, all Saturday games (beginning in May) and three games each against the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.

A lower price will be charged for all Saturday home games in April and all Friday games beginning in May (except for July 4 against Philadelphia). Those games are designated as "black" games.

The other 52 home games will be "white" games. Those will be the cheapest tickets of all, but also potentially some of the least desirable matchups or attendance nights for fans.

The Pirates claim that their average ticket price was $17.21 in 2013 and will rise to $18.32 under the new system in 2014.